Konstantin Rausch

Football player infobox
playername = Konstantin Rausch
fullname = Konstantin Rausch


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1990|03|15
cityofbirth = Kozhevnikovo
countryofbirth = Soviet Union
height = height|m=1.78
currentclub = Hannover 96
position = Left wing-back
clubnumber = 34
youthyears = 1996–2002
2002–2004
2004–2008
youthclubs = TuS Lachendorf
SV Nienhagen
Hannover 96
years = 2008–
clubs = Hannover 96
caps(goals) = 04 0(0)
nationalyears = 0000–2007
2008–
nationalteam = Germany U-17
Germany U-18
nationalcaps(goals) = 23 0(0)
03 0(0)
pcupdate = June 15 2008
ntupdate = June 15 2008

Konstantin Rausch (born March 15, 1990 in Kozhevnikovo, Novosibirsk Oblast) is a Russian-born German footballer. He is a left-footed full-back who has also played wingback. He plays for Hannover 96, where he signed his first professional contract after making his debut against Stuttgart on March 30, 2008 aged 18.

Personal life

Rausch's family emigrated to Germany from Siberia when he was 5 years old. His first friend in Germany couldn't pronounce "Konstantin" and instead called him "Kocka"; the nickname is still used by his teammates and coach [ [http://www.das-fanmagazin.de/forum/thread.php?threadid=36573 Das Fanmagazin | Pressebereich | HAZ: Nachgefragt … bei Konstantin Rausch ] ] .

Career

Early years

Shortly after moving to Germany, Rausch started playing football at the local club, TuS Lachendorf. With 12 he had an offer to join the youth team of Bundesliga side Hannover 96, but decided he was not mature enough for such a big club and joined a bigger local club, SV Nienhagen, instead. He joined Hannover two years later, rejecting offers from Werder Bremen and Feyenoord [ [http://www.das-fanmagazin.de/forum/thread.php?threadid=34450 Das Fanmagazin | Pressebereich | NP: Dieser Rausch soll 96 glücklich machen ] ] .

Hannover 96

When left full back Michael Tarnat and his first-choice replacement Christian Schulz were injured, Rausch debuted against Stuttgart on March 30, 2008 aged 18, which made him the youngest player ever to appear in the Hannover first team. Rausch had a good game, but had to be substituted at half time due to a strained muscle. Two days later, he signed his first professional contract, running until 2010 [ [http://www.hannover96.de/CDA/aktuelles/news/detailansicht.html?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2492&cHash=09c77b56f0 Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896 e.V ] ] . While Hannover favoured a longer contract, Rausch did not want to bind himself for too long [ [http://www.das-fanmagazin.de/forum/thread.php?threadid=37391 Das Fanmagazin | Pressebereich | NP: Vertrag bis 2010 für den 96-Rausch ] ] .

International career

International youth teams

Rausch played for various German youth teams as a left full back or wing back, accumulating more than 30 appearances [ [http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=311715&action=showPlayer&player=rausch_konstantin&lang=E&cHash=850d9ae2e2 DFB - Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. - Team ] ] . His biggest success was a bronze medal at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he started in every game except for one he missed after being sent off [ [http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=275164/index.html FIFA.com - FIFA Player Statistics: Konstantin RAUSCH ] ] . After the tournament, he was awarded a Fritz Walter Medal in silver as the second most promising German football player of his age [ [http://www.tor24.de/u-21/dfb-ehrt-nachwuchsspieler-saison-medaille-13341.html DFB ehrt Nachwuchsspieler der Saison mit Medaille - TOR24.de ] ] .

Honours

*FIFA U-17 World Cup: Third place 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=311715&action=showPlayer&player=rausch_konstantin&lang=E&cHash=850d9ae2e2 Konstantin Rausch at the official German U18 page]